Championship Drag Racing

Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals
Pomona, CA
(November 1-4)

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Driver Profile

Matt Smith MSR/Viper Motorcycles Buell

Pomona, prerace: Matt Smith stands in the third position, 51 points out of the POWERade Pro Stock Motorcycle lead and he knows that he has one last shot to make it happen in 2007.

After Smith’s semifinal loss to points leader Andrew Hines last weekend, Smith stayed and tested Monday at Vegas in order to make sure that he was more than ready for this weekend’s finale in Pomona.

 “We tested after the race on Monday,” said Smith. “We wanted to make sure that we had everything in order to be ready to make one last run at it in Pomona. We ran very good and hope to make our mark this weekend.”

Smith has already made his mark this season and everyone knows he is for real. Venturing out on his own in 2007, Smith has been strong right out of the box. Putting in more manhours than possibly anyone in the motorcycle class, Smith knows what it takes to work his way to the top.

“I have worked for everything I have,” said Smith. “I wasn’t spoon fed. Even though my dad’s a racer, he didn’t give me any of this and some people don’t realize that. I had to prove to him I wanted it and that I could do it before he actually started helping me, which wasn’t even until a few years ago. I work in the shop, I drive the hauler, I tune the bike, and I ride the bike.

"You have to be a very determined and disciplined individual to do this and I learned how to be that way through my dad. I can’t thank him enough for instilling this in me. That’s the reason I am where I am today.”

Smith’s hard work has paid off and this year no matter where Smith finishes in the top-four, it will be his highest finish to date in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.

“Last year we finished fifth,” said Smith. “So this year we have bettered that mark. We will be happy wherever we finish, but you better bet that we are going into Pomona swinging and we will give it all we got to try and finish on top this weekend.”

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